Meghan Markle has offered confirmation that Prince Harry brought their children to Althorp during their recent UK summer trip, through a carefully curated Instagram carousel posted Thursday, July 23. The photographs appear to subtly reveal what many had wondered about the family’s European travels.
Prince Harry visits Princess Diana’s childhood home with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, carrying flowers to honour his late mother’s memory during the family’s UK trip.Image credit (Instagram)
Town & Country reports that among the snapshots from Portugal and the United Kingdom, one image shows Prince Harry and Prince Archie carrying large bouquets of flowers as Princess Lilibet trails behind them on the grounds of the Spencer family’s ancestral estate. PEOPLE noted that Diana’s burial site is located on an island in the middle of a lake on the estate, suggesting the bouquets were brought to pay respects at her grave.
Prince Harry returns to Princess Diana‘s childhood home with Meghan Markle
This marks the second time Harry has brought Meghan to Althorp during a UK visit. In September 2022, he brought her to the estate, where they were welcomed by Diana’s siblings: Charles, Sarah, and Jane to visit their mother’s resting place. That significant occasion inspired reflections in Harry’s 2023 memoir ‘Spare’.
Althorp, Princess Diana’s childhood home and final resting place, holds special significance for Prince Harry and his family.Image credit (Instagram)
“I led Meg up the path, around a hedge, through the labyrinth. There it was, looming: the grayish white oval stone. No visit to this place was ever easy, but this one… Twenty-fifth anniversary. And Meg’s first time. At long last I was bringing the girl of my dreams home to meet mum,” Harry wrote.He continued: “We hesitated, hugging, and then I went first. I placed flowers on the grave. Meg gave me a moment, and I spoke to my mother in my head, told her I missed her, asked her for guidance and clarity. Feeling that Meg might also want a moment, I went around the hedge, scanned the pond. When I came back, Meg was kneeling, eyes shut, palms against the stone.”Upon leaving the grave, Harry recalled asking what Meghan had prayed for. “Clarity, she said. And guidance.”
Harry maintains close connection with Spencer family and Diana’s legacy
Harry has remained close with his Spencer family over the years. The family maintained its ties, as reportedly Diana’s sisters, Lady Jane and Lady Sarah McCorquodale, were present at the christening of Princess Lilibet in 2023.Harry and Meghan took Archie and Lilibet to meet King Charles at his private country home Highgrove on the recent visit to the UK. Althorp lies just over two hours’ drive from Highgrove and the two visits were feasible within the family’s time in Britain.Having the children there in such close proximity to these personal family places indicates Harry’s work to provide opportunities for Archie and Lilibet to engage with their grandfather’s legacy and their grandmother’s memory.